Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER — The 33rd annual Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy graduation banquet celebrated 34 students Wednesday, May 6 at The Owl’s Nest in North Webster.
Keynote speaker Ryan Burgher spoke extensively about leadership through service, encouraging students to pursue opportunities they feel called toward even when the outcome is uncertain. Burgher, a Warsaw native and founder of the sports ministry AGAITAS, traced the organization’s growth from a single free soccer camp in 2012 to an international ministry operating camps, outreach programs and community events.
Burgher explained the ministry began after he and his wife, Nina, felt inspired to create a free soccer camp focused on serving children who otherwise might not be able to afford participation in organized sports.
“I felt called to do something,” Burgher said. “We wanted to make it free for every single kid that ever came. Sports are crazy expensive now.”
The original camp hosted 37 children at Lakeland Christian Academy. Burgher said the ministry has since expanded into basketball, baseball, golf, rugby, pickleball and cross-country camps, many staffed by high school volunteers and community members. He said nearly 1,000 students are currently registered across the organization’s camps and programs.
Throughout the speech, Burgher repeatedly returned to the themes of “calling,” “obedience” and “impact,” telling students meaningful service often begins with small decisions to act.
“When there’s a calling and you’re obedient, God will bless that,” Burgher said.
Burgher described several outreach efforts that grew unexpectedly after individuals chose to volunteer their time or talents. Among them were sports camps in Cameroon, Brazil and India, as well as local “pop-up camps” held in lower-income neighborhoods around Kosciusko County.
He shared a story from one of those local camps in which a child told volunteers his family had little food at home. Burgher said a community member who heard about the situation provided meals for children attending the camp the following day.
“The fact that you were called to do something is the main point,” Burgher told students. “The difference between having a calling and obedience is action.”
Burgher also praised the KYLA students for the work they completed throughout the year, saying he was encouraged by the pride students showed while presenting their community service projects.
“I have goosebumps just thinking about the impact that these kids are making,” he said. “Kids, you’re doing an awesome job.”
Two student groups presented their Project Proud initiatives during the banquet.
The Common Grounds Initiative, led by Presley Andrews, Gibsen Claxton, Savannah Purdy and Olivia Rooney, partnered with Fellowship Missions to provide coffee and coffee supplies for guests at the homeless shelter. The students organized fundraisers and secured donations from businesses including Starbucks, Generous Coffee, Main Street Coffee House and the Milford Food Bank.
Students said Fellowship Missions uses between 15 and 20 pots of coffee daily and noted coffee often helps foster conversation and recovery support among guests. The project ultimately secured several months’ worth of coffee supplies, with additional long-term donations pledged by local businesses.
Another featured project, Heart and Sole, focused on providing shoes for children in need throughout the community. Team members Eduardo Sanchez-Brito, Michael Schenck, Sean Smith, Chris Stenoish and Grayson Waldo organized shoe drives at Eisenhower and Jefferson elementary schools and worked with local businesses and nonprofit organizations to raise funds and collect footwear.
Other projects included:
Wags & Whiskers - This group set up multiple bins around the community to collect needed items such as collars, leashes, dog and cat toys, treats and pet food for the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County.
The Belonging Box Project - Collected toys, books and blankets as well as monetary donations that were used to purchase items for children in foster care.
Tiny Treasurers - This group organized a fundraiser event to raise funds and collect baby items for Heartline Pregnancy Center.
Paws & Presence - Delysia Walters partnered with the Animal Welfare League to take dogs from the shelter to visit residents at an area nursing home.
United by Love - This group collected donations of stuffed animals and books that were given to children in the community, as well as to Beaman Home and the BABE store.
Earth Care Coalition - This group made dog treats and volunteered numerous hours at AWL.
Lake Conservation - volunteered their time as well as organized other groups to walk the trails near Lake Wawasee and Syracuse Lake and pick up trash.
Speaking on behalf of the KYLA board, Carl Lauster said this year’s class completed 10 community service projects, bringing the program’s overall total to more than 260 projects completed by approximately 830 alumni over the academy’s 33-year history.
“Each student was required to develop a community service project and take it from concept to completion,” Lauster said during opening remarks. “You made a decision to be part of something that was bigger than yourself.”
Lauster told students leadership was “about influence, integrity and impact,” adding that the projects completed this year “made an impact” and “helped better people’s lives.”
Each year a graduating KYLA student is named to serve one year on the board. This year's student is Michael Schenck.
KYLA is a nonprofit organization that provides an opportunity for high school juniors in Kosciusko County to learn about leadership and become informed about the community they live in.
Applications are being accepted for next year’s class. Current high school sophomores are eligible to apply. The online application, as well as additional information about KYLA, can be found at kosciuskoyouthleadership.org. The application deadline is Wednesday, May 20.
